ControlCraft 3 Review

ControlCraft has reached its third generation and is ready to bring its fast-thinking tower defense style action to your iPod, iPhone, or iPad. Do you have what it takes to command and control your troops in order to win the war that's waging on your mobile device? Land sakes if I know. But you can play ControlCraft 3 in the meantime.

The latest from developer Cybernate is a stable entry in this line-up of games that offers you a decent amount to game on in the genre of action-strategy titles. Oh, and Contre Jour. No shortage of troop-powered silhouette action to be found here.

This new version of ControlCraft has tuned itself up visually a bit, offering new animations and backgrounds, along with different options for your battling units. It adds up to a nice new polish on an already established franchise.

But how does the game play? Well, pretty much the same as the past versions if you are familiar with them. In case you're not familiar, ControlCraft 3 is a real-time strategy game where you are tasked with managing units as resources to take uh, control, of various points on a given level. It's kind of like the Ender's Game inspired Galcon, if you've ever played that early iOS standout.

At the beginning of each level, players start with a certain number of control points and units and must use them to conquer their enemies. Once you take over the control points of your enemy, you will generate more units to help turn the tide in your favor. In order to move your troops around, all you have to do is tap and drag. The controls couldn't be simpler.

That easy setup powers the engine of the game, which in turn helps move along the 'ol strategy car. While it's easy to move things around, if you are not on top of your game and commanding units to go where they are supposed to, you will quickly be overtaken by your enemy. Finding the right balance between spreading your army and fortifying locations is the way you'll be able to consistently win.

ControlCraft 3 takes place over 48 different levels that offer enough variety to keep you interested, despite the repetitiveness of the gameplay. Along the way, you are able to upgrade your troops with different weapons and options to help deal with the increasing difficulty.

There's also the option of tailoring your strategy before each level, depending on the particulars of the challenges you're about to face. Being able to alter your strengths and weaknesses adds a nice amount of depth, even though it really doesn't go that deep in the long run.

Let's face it, if you've played earlier versions of ControlCraft 3, you have played this newer one as well. But since it's free, there is really no harm and no foul in giving this one a try. Especially if these kind of games are your thing. Then again, you can always revisit Galcon.